Automatic feeding apparatus for steam boilers



July 27, 1943. J. F. GILMORE 2,325,241

AUTOMATIC FEEDING APPARATUS FOR STEAM BOILERS Filed Oct. 13, 1941 INVENTOR. 'fzmesEG 2 Zmore/ ATTORNEYS Patented July 27, 1943 I =-STEAM BOILERS James Gilmore,"Kalispell, Mont, assignor of:

one-half to Valjean Riley, Kalispell, Mont; t

Applicationbctober 1s, 1941, SerialNo. 414,896 1 com (01.122456) r-Thisinvention relates to water feeding'apparatus for a steam =boil'e'r,*and its. general object is to. provide an apparatus which fully automatic to" maintain a normal water level Within the boiler.

-'A further objectis to 'providea water feeding apparatus for a steam boiler, that is controlled solely bythe quantity of water withintheboiler, that is when the water level therein drops below normal, a float actuated switch controlled by .the water within the boiler, opens a circuit to a second switch, the latter beingactuated to closed the tank 3, as shown,so that-the water willflow by gravity from the ,tank 2 into the tank.3 and I from the latter into. the boiler. 'For. that purpose,

a pipe line 4 is provided between the tanks and l a pipeline 5 is provided between'the tank 3 and the boiler,:the pipe lines having check valvesnli and '7 respectively therein, to prevent return of I water to the tanks, as will be apparent." 'The pipe position by a float in the.waterifeedingsmeans,

andxthe second switch-opens and closes the cirand arrangementof the several .parts, to be here- 1 inafter fully described,illustrated inthe accomT panying. drawing and specifically-pointed outin the appended-claims.

In describing the invention in-detail, reference will be hadto the accompanying drawing wherein like characters denote lik or corresponding parts throughout theseveral views, and in which:'

line 5 has itslower end terminating slightly above the bottom' ofi the boiler,and:the upper end "of the pipe. line "5 ,connects with the tank adjacent its bottom; The lowerend of the pipe line 4 connects with the pipeline B-adjacent its connection with the tank 3, whilelthe' upper end,

of the pipe line 4 tank2. a

In order to maintain'a' high'water level within the'tank 2,51 provide a float actuated valve 8 that controls the inlet end .ofa: pipe line 9 which. extends into the tank 2, and it will be obvious connects with' the bottom of the that the valve 8 is open, except when a high water level is reachedwithi'n the tank, as indi- .'.Figure l is a diagrammatic view of .the apparatus,- with the circuit open and the parts in a position, just after the water level in .the boiler hasbecome normaL-and the receiving tank .is being'filledfrom the-supply tank,-'so as to, render, the' apparatus ready for;the next boiler filling operation.

Figure 2 is a detail View illustrating the float and motor operatedswitch for controlling the motor,in closedposition, and the motor operated tripping lever in a position just prior toopening the switch. I

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, with the parts in a position just after the switch has been opened by the tripping lever. v Referring to the drawing in detail, the refer! ence. numeral l indicates a ,steamlooiler, :2 a supply tank and 3 a water receiving and steam pressure tank, the tank-3 being suitably supportedabove the .boiler,;and, the tank 2 above cated by th float Ill, andgthe pipe line .9 is in communication with asuitable source of water pp y.

Apipe line ll' also;extendsjbetween the tanks 2 and ,3 and is connected to the tank 2 adjacent -itszbottom and to the, tank 3 adjacent'its top, the pipe line I I acting to release steamfrom the'tank 3 for a purpose which will be later described, and a pipe line 12 is likewise provided between the boiler and the tank 3', for passage of steam to the latter, itbeing, noted that the pipe line 12 extends into the tank ,3 and terminates in a vertical portion opening adja cent the top thereof. ,A valve {I3 is mounted in the pipe line H and a similar valve-i lfis" mounted inthe pipe line l2,"the'valves,being' actuated by levers l5'andl6 respectively thatjare. secured to the stems thereof, and the'levers are pivotally connected at their outer ends" to a rod ll, wherebyupon'movement of the rod,-the

valves will be actuated in unison and in a manner.

sothat when onevalve is closed, the otherwill be open. i

Mounted on suitable-supporting means; isan electric motor [8 that hassecured to the outer end of its armature shaft It. a Worm 2i); that meshes with a Worm gear 2l'xwhich is fixed to a shaft 22, the latter being suitably mounted'in bearings and has fixed thereto a crank element 23. A link 24 has its ;upper end pivotallyconnected to the rod l'l and-its: lower end to; the crank element 23, with the result it willcbei'seenthat upon rotation of the gear]l;',1;the valv.es;=1 1 3 close. a v

the gear 2|, and the leveris normally held in engagement with :a pin 26 by a coil spring 21 that has one end connected to the lever and its oppositeendto, the scare I Suitably; secured to {the topwall; of the tank '3 is a bearing 28 having mounted fo rocking movement therein, the upper bent end portion, 29 of a rod 30 that extends into the tank 3 and has a float 3| fixed to the innereiendiithereoil,

of a link 32 that has its opposite, ends pivoted to the upper end of a vertical link; 33',;.ther1atterj having its lower end pivoted to the long arm 34 The operation is as follows: Assuming that the parts of the apparatus are in the position of Figure 1', with the tank 3 being filled with water from the tank 2. When the tank 3 becomes filled, the float 3| will be at its uppermost position and the roller 35 will be moved from the position of Figure 1, it having moved he. UrS-hfl'ped membertothe position of Figure 2 andfcaused the; switch lever 45, to drop, as shown in that figure. In'view of the'fact that the valve [4 is closed at that time, the water cannot pass to the boiler, due to the steam pressure in. theipiperline '5, and as the level of water Fixed to the portion 29 of the rod 30 is one end;

of a bell crank which has arollen 35"connected" to the free end of the short arm 35 thereof, and the bell crank is pivotally' mounted on a pin 31; A substantially -lzi=shapedmember; is mounted! tn rrocking movement fiorfldisposal; of the arms 3&thereofin;thepathofi'the roller 3,."1;v For that, s

purpose, a: bearing- 3 9vis formeds on: the :bight:portion ofxthe Ur'shapedtmember; the bearing being mounted on; amine shaft 41L andithe ,roller is. dis posed between theiarms's-tor(engagement with: eitherxarm :to. reckithe u'eshapedx member for a punpose whichrwillabe later apparent. Each arm; ashes loosely:pivotedthereto, the lowerrapex end of a substantially. triangular abutment lug M1, and' thelugs. aire-norirmlly held: by. leaf; springs 41*. in: the, path oiii'as pisnl'kfiithat is. fixed to andl extends; laterally from an: arcuate switch lever ll; midway its' fends; gas-renown, the arcuate switch lever being pivoted at one end as'atiifi; and; the opposite endi-isifree "as: well 'as' is disposed in the .pathiof' thetripping "lever 25. '1' Se-- cured-i tothe 'switchlever filadiiacent to its pivotcd' enduis a mercury Switch; element H that open when the lever 451s in its upper position i'rr the boiler is normal, as shown in Figure 1, the

switch,4 8, is open, therefore the apparatus is inactive.j.- e

However; when the water level in the boiler drops belownormal the switch 48 will close position, andi. the. valve; 81 .110 closed) position.

, Steam from theeboilerewillilthem pass to the tank 3a through the pipe line l=2 ,1;so;-that steam, prese sure, in tankand: boiler will be? equalized}. to

allow the water'to flow by gravity fromtheutanlr 3;:into: the boiler. Atthe: timetheivalves' 1.3 and to reached. their lastv mentioned position,v the trippingdever 25. had engagedrthe switch levers and; liftedthe latter to the position of li igure ii; and thereby hadropenect thelcircuit tor the motor. Whem the waiter-has; been conductedfrom the tank 3 into-the boiler,- .fioatr3iliwilli have swung: downward to; its-lowermostposition, aetuatingi the link andlleveie mechanism so thatzthe' roller 35;wi11i have. been swung through its .arcuate movement to:ti1t the-' u shaped member from its left hand; or thatposition. shown atrFigure 3',

offll' igur-eilandis:closeeiwhen the l'ever'is inits lower position of,F'igurer2-.v Bythat construction; itxwirl be obvious-that th-effloat. actua crank acts to rock the U-sheped rnerr erior, moving the pin 4' offthe abutment. lug ii' upon V which it is mounted; ior'thesw-itch lever toidrop by gravity, to bring about closing of: the switch and the tripp-ing lever 25-will engage the free end or theswitch lever and-lift the same for dispose.- ing the pin upon one of the lugs-.41 and thus openthe switch. a s t In order to 'cont'rol the operation oftthe feed-.-

"i'ngmechanism solely the quantity of" water on and extending ini opposite directions there:

from, and the nipples vare connected; by elbows 53," to one end, of the: boiler, ,for' disposing the rocking point of the rod 49 on the same level with that of the normal water level Within the boiler, as shown by 'theidash linein Figure l, sothat the switch 48 will be openwhenthelwater water level drops below normal the switch will The switch .48 is in for opening andclosingthe' circuitthe-reto, and the motor is alsoiin' the circuit, which:likewise his: a-sourcen-of: current 58 therein,

bell

to/theupright position illustrated at Figure 1'. During-such movement oithe U-sh'aped member 'a the pmmm the lever dtwill-have dropped from the abutment-"41 omth'ei right-hand; arm oi the U shaped member with corresponding lowering ot thelever 451110 effect closure of i the mercury switch: ffl'and' closureof the circuit to" operate the motor 18 which-then'drives' the worrrr'wheel 2i through a'half turn; This. operation actuates thegearlevers: "I l andi |.8'-1to c1'ose valve I 4& and:

' open valve 13;"cuttingoff steam supply: from the boiler to tank ind-causingthe steamto pass from tank 3i t0\ tank-2: During the last men tioned half turn movement of the worm gear 2 1* the tripping lever thereon willthave engaged: the free end of the switch lever- GS- from. its lowermost position; to its uppermost :position- During the interval when the switch lever was being' elevatedthe water entering-tank 3 from tank'l will have el'evatedthe float. 3| and caused operation of the iinkalanilever mechanism so that roller 35 returns to-it's left hand position as shown in- Figure- 2 and release or the switch lever fl iromits elevated-position will brihg-the-pin rest on the right hand abutment 4| of the u shaped member-as shown at Figure: 3--so as to retain the level within theboiler is normal, but when the 1 "circuit with-the switch u v motor-'circuit open untilthe water level in the boiler again: dropsto cause lowering of the float on theinner end: or the lil and closure-ofi the mercury switch 48 to restart the motor and open steam line valve" M- while-closing the upper stealm linevalve 1:3 with-resultant shitting of the U-shaped member from the-left hand position of Fi'g'ure 3, thesubsequent drop of the switch lever 45' withthe further operation oi? the motor and" repeating the cycle to effect proper filling of theiboilen' 1 -It=is thought rrom the foregoing description.

that the advantages and novelfeatures of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An automatic feeding apparatus for a steam boiler, comprising a tank, a water pipe line between the tank and boiler, a valve controlled steam pipe line between the tank and boiler, a valve controlled steam outlet for the tank, motor operated means for actuating the valves to alternately introduce steam into the tank and to relieve steam therefrom, switch means in circuit with the motor, float actuated means for closing the switch means and controlled'by water in the tank, means actuated by-the motor for opening the switch means, and float actuated switch means controlled by water in the boiler and in circuit with the first switch means.

2. An automatic feeding apparatus for a steam boiler, comprising a water supply tank, a second tank :evated above the boiler and between the latter and the supply tank, check valve controlled pipe lines between the tanks and between the second tank and boiler, a valve controlled I steam pipe line between the boiler and the second tank, a valve controlled steam pipe line be- :1

tween said tanks, motor operated means for actuating the valves of the steam pipe lines to alternately introduce steam into the second tank and to relieve steam therefrom, switch means in circuit with the motor, float actuated means for closing the switch means and controlled by water in the second tank, means actuated by the motor for opening the switch means, and float actuated switch means controlled by water in the boiler and in circuit with the first switch means. i

3. An automatic feeding apparatus for a steam boiler, comprising the structure of claim 2, and said float actuated switch means including a mercury element, a housing, opposed nipples formed on said housing and connected to the boiler, a rockably mounted rod extending through the housing and having the mercury element fixed to the outer end thereof, and afloat on the inner end of said rod. v p i 4. An automatic feeding apparatus for a steam boiler, comprising the structure of claim 2, and

the first mentioned switch means including a 1 lever pivoted at one end, a mercury element fixed adjacent said end, U-shaped means mounted for rocking movement, means on the U-shaped means for supporting the lever in a position with i means for supporting the lever in a position with the switch means closed and in another position with the switch means open, and said lever being disposed in the path of said motor actuated means.

6. An automatic feeding apparatus for a steam boiler, comprising the structure of claim 2, and said motor operated means including a worm fixed to the armature shaft of the motor, a gear having the worm meshing therewith, a shaft for the gear, a crank element fixed to the gear shaft and linked to said valves, a tripping lever associated with the gear shaft for rotation with the gear, and a lever included in the first mentioned switch means and arranged in the path of the tripping lever for actuating the switch means.

' JAMES F. GILMORE. 

